Pakistan to Launch Advanced Earth Observation Satellite on July 31

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan is set to take another major leap in space technology with the launch of its latest Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) on July 31, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) announced in an official statement.

The satellite will be launched from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC) and is expected to significantly enhance Pakistan’s Earth observation capabilities. Equipped with cutting-edge imaging technology, PRSS will support a broad range of national applications including precision agriculture, urban planning, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.

Suparco said the satellite’s advanced sensors will help monitor and predict natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, glacier melt, and deforestation, enabling better planning and timely response. It will also play a key role in geospatial mapping and infrastructure development under national initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

With this launch, PRSS will join Pakistan’s growing fleet of satellites, including PRSS-1 (2018) and the Electro-Optical Satellite EO-1, which was launched in January 2025. The latest addition strengthens Suparco’s capacity and aligns with the goals outlined in the National Space Policy and Vision 2047 — a roadmap to transform Pakistan into a spacefaring nation.

Suparco described the mission as more than just a technological milestone, calling it a continuation of Pakistan’s long-term commitment to harnessing space science for national development.

Pakistan’s modern space era was revived in 2011 with the launch of PakSat-1R, a communications satellite developed in collaboration with China. Since then, the country has made notable progress with the successful deployment of PakTES-1A and PRSS-1 in 2018, followed by PakSat-MM1 in 2024, which brought high-speed internet to underserved regions.

In a major breakthrough earlier this year, Pakistan launched its first fully indigenously developed satellite, EO-1, built entirely by local engineers and scientists to serve agriculture, environmental analysis, and disaster preparedness needs.

The country also gained international attention with the iCube Qamar mission a student-built satellite from the Institute of Space Technology (IST) that captured detailed images of the Moon, highlighting the innovation and talent of Pakistan’s young scientific community.

The launch of PRSS marks another proud chapter in Pakistan’s space journey, reinforcing its resolve to use technology for sustainable development, national resilience, and global recognition.